In his Good Friday homily, the Local Ordinary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg reflected on the Passion through the eyes of Peter and the Good Thief—challenging s to see Jesus not only in glory, but in suffering.

Cardinal Stephen Brislin invited the people of God gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King to engage personally with the Passion of the Lord. More than a recounting of events, the Passion, he said, is a mirror for our own lives.
“We have once again listened to the reading of the Passion of Our Lord,” Cardinal Brislin began. “Once again we have heard of his suffering, his torture and his death.”

He urged those gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King to see themselves in the Gospel story—not just as onlookers, but as people who, like those around Jesus during His final hours, must respond.
“In some way, we have something of each of these characters within ourselves,” the Cardinal said. “Who are you most closely identified with in the narrative?”
He named Simon of Cyrene, the weeping women of Jerusalem, Mary and St John at the foot of the Cross—and even Pilate—as mirrors of our daily choices, compassion, and compromises.

A Tale of Two Men: Peter and the Thief
Cardinal Brislin focused especially on two people who both looked at the suffering of Jesus but responded in opposite ways: St Peter and the second thief on the cross.
“Peter was a good man, who loved Jesus,” he said. “But he was also impetuous and weak-willed.” Faced with the horror of Jesus’ arrest and trial, Peter’s faith collapsed.
“Peter looked at Jesus, beaten, bruised, bleeding, weak and vulnerable,” the Cardinal reflected, “and he said, ‘I do not know him.’”

In contrast, the second thief, though never a disciple, saw something greater.
“When the second thief looked at the dying Jesus, he said, ‘Lord, save me.’”
Cardinal Brislin described this thief as “a remarkable person” whose faith was not built on witnessing miracles, but on seeing love and truth revealed in suffering.
“Faith came to him not through miracles but through Jesus dying on the Cross.”

Faith in the Midst of Pain
Too often, the Cardinal warned, people recognize Jesus only when life is beautiful, easy, or blessed. But real faith is tested and formed in the crucible of suffering.

“We have to also have the eyes and heart of the second thief,” he said. “To recognize Jesus in those who suffer, those who are rejected and scorned, those who are weak and vulnerable.” This includes recognizing Jesus in our own pain and trials.
“If we are only close to Jesus when all is good, when hardship comes our way we will feel devastated—as if God has abandoned us and is punishing us.”

A Good Friday Challenge for Today
As the Church paused on Good Friday to remember the death of Christ, Cardinal Brislin’s words were both a reflection and a challenge—to look at the Cross and see not only Christ’s suffering, but our own calling to deeper compassion, fidelity, and faith.
“We must also be able to recognize the presence of Jesus in times of our own suffering and hardship,” he said. “We have much to learn from the second thief.”